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Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2011, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (2): 300-303.

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Propylene Carbonate from CO2 and Propylene Oxide

ZHANG Li1,2, WANG Huan1, LI Rui-na1, CHEN Bao-li1 and LU Jia-xing1*   

  1. 1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Process, Department of Chemistry, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China;
    2. Advanced Analysis and Measurement Center, Anhui University of Technology, Ma'anshan 230042, P. R. China
  • Received:2010-04-21 Revised:2010-09-06 Online:2011-03-25 Published:2011-03-09
  • Contact: LU Jia-xing E-mail:jxlu@chem.ecnu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:

    Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.20973065), the Fund of Basic Research in Natural Science Issued by Shanghai Municipal Committee of Science, China(No.08dj1400100), the Shanghai Leading Project, China (No.B409) and the Foundation of Outstanding Young Talent in University of Anhui Province, China(No.2010SQRL042).

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Abstract: The electrocatalytic synthesis of propylene carbonate(PC) from CO2 and propylene oxide(PO) was studied under mild conditions(PCO2=1.01×105 Pa, t=25 °C). Influences of solvents, supporting electrolytes, the passed charge, the nature of electrodes and the current density(j) on the yield of PC were investigated to optimize the electrolytic conditions, with the maximal yield to be 46.2%, the selectivity of propylene carbonate is 100%. The reduction of propylene oxide in the absence and presence of CO2 was examined by cyclic voltammetry. The mechanism of the reaction initiated by the synergistic effect of halides ions of supporting electrolytes with nucleophilicity and the metal ions from scarification anode with Lewis acid acidity was proposed on the basis of our results.

Key words: CO2, Electrocatalytic synthesis, Propylene carbonate, Propylene oxide, Halide ion